Portable aeronautic service unit



Oct; 17, 1944. .5 -n 2,360,420

PORTABLE AERONAUTIC SERVICE UNIT Filed May 8, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet l Afro/EM Patented Oct. 17, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PORTABLE AERONAUTIC SERVICE UNIT Harold E. Hill, Wauwatosa, Wis., assignor to Lister-Blackstone, Inc., West Allis, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Application May 8, 1943, Serial No. 486,181

"Claims.

' planes and other equipment associated with airports or the like.

Generally defined, an object of my present invention is to provide various improvements in the construction and operation of illuminating and power producing units, whereby the flexibility and utility thereof is enhanced to a maximum.

In the performance of various types of night operations and work such as servicing airports, answering fire and police department calls, loading and unloading vessels, facilitating the sawing and stacking of lumber, quarrying gravel and rock, and in connection with many other industries, it is extremely desirable to have available some type of portable lighting and power equipment for performing many major and minor duties, and which will function independently of fixed power lines and other relatively stationary sources of power. Such a portable lighting and power source in order to be of real utility, must be relatively mobile, compact, durable and reliable in operation; and should also be selfcontained and extremely flexible in its uses or adaptations. A unit of this kind should embody a complete power plant capable of generating high and low voltage electric current; and if used for lighting purposes, it should also be provided with adjustable search and flood lights so mounted that they can be caused to most effectively illuminate extensive areas in diverse directions. While many prior attempts to produce utility units of this kind have heretofore been made, these prior outfits have lacked either sufficient mobility or flexibility, and most of them were relatively complicated, costly and diificult to manipulate.

It is therefore a more specific object of the present invention to provide an improved service unit which meets all of the above-mentioned specific requirements, and which is capable of being manufactured and operated at moderate cost to perform various illuminating and power supply duties.

Another specific object of this invention is to provide an improved mobile lighting outfit equipped with a powerful search light, and also withample additional flood lights to enable the unit to be used to meet diverse illuminating requirements throughout extensive areas.

A further specific object of the invention is to provide an improved engine driven generator set which may be used to generate either high or low voltage electric current, or both; and which is especially adapted for the'illumination of airports and for facilitating the starting of airplane motors, emergency welding, and other purposes.

Still another specific object of my invention is to provide a compact and highly mobile lighting and power generating unit, which can be transferred from place to place as a semi-trailer, but which is also freely movable in any direction when disconnected from its traction vehicle.

An additional specific object of this invention is to provide a durable and dependable power generating outfit which is extremely flexible in its adaptations and can therefore be utilized to perform various duties and to operate numerous types of auxiliary equipment in many industries.

These and other specific objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description.

A clear conception of the several features constituting my present invention, and of the construction and operation of portable lighting, power generating, and service units embodying the improvements, may be had by referring to the drawings accompanying and forming a part of this specification wherein like reference char acters designate the same or similar parts in the various views.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one type of the improved portable lighting and power generating unit, showing one of the new flood light assemblages erected adjacent to the main unit;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary central vertical section through one of the adjustable and telescopic mountings for the individual flood lights;

Fig. 3 is a part sectional fragmentary view through the base portion of one of the improved flood light standards;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary side view of the front end portion of one of the semi-trailer units, showing the front castor wheel elevated as when the unit is being transported by a traction vehicle;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged side elevation of one of the lamp disconnecting devices for permitting the individual search and flood light to be cut into or out of the power system;

Fig. 6 is a relatively diagrammatic fragmentary sectional view showing the hydraulic lift for the search light; and

Fig. '7 is a diagram of the electric lighting and utility power system.

While the invention has been shown and described herein as having special utility when applied to a mobile lighting and service unit for airports or the like, it is not my desire or intent to thereby unnecessarily limit the scope or utility of the improvement which has been advantageously applied in connection with many other industries and for numerous diverse purposes.

Referring especially to Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive of the drawings, the improved lighting and service unit shown therein comp-rises in general a mobile vehicle or truck having a frame 8 mounted on two opposed main wheels 9 and a central castor wheel I; a power generating set mounted upon the portable frame 8 and including an internal combustion engine II having a fuel supply tank I2 and a cooling air intake I3, and a high voltage generator I4 and a lower voltage generator I5 directly connected to the main shaft of the engine II; a universally adjustable search light I6 preferably pivotally mounted centrally of the mobile unit and rearwardly of the engine I I several vertically and universally adjustable and removable flood lights I'I mounted upon the forward portion of the truck; a number of flood light standards each consisting of a tubular colume I8, a base plate I9 and an anchor spud or point 20, also detachably mounted upon the mobile vehicle; one or more power outlets 2| associated with a switch board or control panel 22 also carried by the main frame 8; an aircraft engine starter and welding system 23 associated with the low voltage generator I5; a plurality of manually operable disconnecting devices 24 for the lights I6, I1; and a housing 25 for the power generating set having adequate tool and other auxiliary equipment storage boxes 25 on the opposite sides thereof, also carried by the truck.

The mobile semi-trailer or truck should be sturdily built and is preferably provided with a central draft-attachment or draw-bar 21 near the castor wheel I0; and all of the frame supporting wheels 9, IB may be provided with pneumatic tires as shown in Fig. 1. The castor wheel I0 is adapted to swivel about an upright pivot 28 mounted in a bracket 29 which may be swung from its active position as illustrated in Fig. 1, to inactive approximately horizontal position as depicted in Fig. 4 when the draw-bar 21 is attached to a traction vehicle. When the castor wheel I0 is inactively positioned as in Fig. 4, it is elevated from the ground, and the bracket 29 may be retained in such inactive position by inserting a transverse pin 30 within alined holes thereof and by permitting the ends of this pin 30 to engage the front edges of the main castor wheel suspension bracket SI. With this assemblage, the mobile unit will have most effective three-point support at all times, and the castor wheel I0 will not be subjected to unnecessary wear when not in use.

The improved electric power generating set shown in Figs. 1 and 7, should be provided with a driving motor or engine II of sufficient capacity to operate the generators I4, I5 either independently or simultaneously, and should be provided with the usual controls for effecting desired operation. The main shaft of the engine II which is represented by the center line 32 in Fig. '7, may be provided with a clutch 33 for connecting and disconnecting the low voltage generator I5; and while the high voltage generator may be connected to the engine II at all times so as to make the power outlet 2I constantly available for high voltage current, each of the flood lights I'I should be provided with a disconnecting device 24 such as shown in detail in Fig. 5, in addition to the control switches on the panel 22, for permitting these flood lamps to be cut in or out of the system, and the main search light I! should also be provided with an independent control switch 34. The high voltage line 35 besides being connected to the lights I6, I1 and to the power outlet 2I, may also have a number of independently controllable auxiliaries such as a demagnetizer 36 and an alarm or signal device 31 associated therewith; and each of these auxiliaries as well as each flood-light l'I, should preferably be provided with its own control switch in order to make the system as flexible as possible. The high voltage generator I4 in actual practice, should be capable of generating from one to twenty-five kilowatts alternating current 110/220 volts, and a suitable transformer 38 should be provided for the search light I6.

The low voltage generator I5 should be capable of generating low voltage, relatively high current, direct current output at from 6 to 36 volts and from 200 to 2000 amperes, and in order to permit the voltage characteristics to be readily varied, the winding of this generator is provided with reversible connections 39 as shown in Fig. 7. The generator I5 which is of improved construction, is preferably provided with two series fields i5a and IE1), and with a single shunt field I50. Of the series fields i5a, I52), one is wound to oppose the other in order to obtain drooping voltage characteristics. A reversing switch I5d is also provided, and by throwing this switch in the proper direction, both series fields I5a, Ilib may be caused to operate in the same direction in order to effect a further change in voltage characteristics. A reacto or reactance I5e which is connected through the switch l5d, may be placed in parallel with either or both series fields I5a, I5b, and the purpose of this reactance is to bypass current from the field which is connected thereacross, during steady current flow; but under momentary surges or short-circuit conditions, current will flow through the series field due to the fact that the resistance is less than that of the reacto I5e at such instances. By proper manipulation of the switch d and reversible connections 39, the generator i5 may be made to act either as a fiat compounded generator; or as an under-compounded cumulative generator; o as a differentially compounded generator; or as a welding current generator with arc-stabilization characteristics; or as an aircraft starter current generator cooperable with the system 23, and having automatic short-circuit protection for handling momentary highinrush locked-rotor current, while deliverin substantially constant cranking voltage.

The terminals of the generator I5 may be connected to various types of electrically actuated auxiliaries at the panel 22, depending upon the actual arrangement of the connections 39 and disposition of the switch I5e; and as illus-' trated diagrammatically in Fig. 7, the current produced by the generator I5 may be utilized to operate either an aircraft engine startin motor 40; heater units M of various types; storage battery chargers 42; arc welders 43; pipe thawing apparatus 44; cathode pipe line protectors 45; magnetizers 46; electric lamps 41; or electroplating apparatus 48. When utilized as a starter for aircraft engines which. are adapted to be electrically started, the improved equipment is adapted to deliver substantially constant voltage during the cranking cycle, thus resulting in more rapid take-oils than were possible with the ordinary starting equipment, and also permitting balky airplane engines to be constantly rolled at uniform speed until started. The improved starting assemblage may also be utilized to good advantage when repairing aircraft engines, and the interchangeable or reversible connections 39 permit the generator to be utilized for many diverse purposes including the production of current for operating arc weldin equipment 43 which is of extreme importance in connection with airplane servicing and repairing.

As previously indicated, the main and relatively powerful search light 16 is pivotally and universally adjustably mounted upon the mobile unit, and each of the lights Hi, I! is horizontally swingably suspended upon a yoke 49 and is adapted to be clamped to its suspension yoke 49 in various angular positions, with the aid of a clamping lever 50. The supporting yokes 49 of the flood lights I! are rotatable about upright axes upon hollow spindles 5! which are vertically adjustable within the tubular columns [8 or in similar columns I8 carried directly by the mobile unit on opposite sides of the air intake l3; and the yokes 49 may be firmly secured to their supporting spindles 5| in various adjusted positions by means of clamping levers 52, while the spindles 5| of the flood-lights I1 may likewise be locked in various positions of vertical adjustment with the aid of clamping devices 53, see Fig. 2. As indicated in Fig. 2 of the drawings, the clamping levers 52 for the yokes 49 coact with studs 54 associated with upper thrust bearings 55, and the flood-light clamping devices 53 have threaded clamping portions 56- coacting with bosses 51 welded to the columns I8, 18' and passing through longitudinal slots 58 in the spindles 5| so as to clamp these spindles 5lagainst the interiors of the hollow columns l8, NB. This assemblage obviously provides for universal adjustment of the flood lights I! so as to throw the light beams thereof in any desired direction.

The individual flood lights I! which are normally mounted in the columns l8 fixedly associated with the mobile unit, may be removed therefrom and transferred to portable column assemblages or standards 3 such as shown at the right of Fig. 1 and in Fig. 3; or the mobile power unit may be provided with any number of additional lamps ll. Each of the hollow stand.- ards or columns 18 is provided with screw threads 59 at its lower end, and each of the anchoring spuds or points 20 has similar screw threads 60 at its upper end, and these threads 59, 60 are adapted for attachment to a base flange or plate 19 as illustrated in Fig 3. Th extra columns 3 may be suspended from and stored beneath the frame 8 in any convenient manner asv by means of slings 6|, or with the aid of cable clips 62 attached to the columns; and the extra base plates [9 may be stacked for storage upon vertical pins mounted above the fuel tank l2 as depicted in Fig. 1. In order to enhance. the flood lighting range, a number of extension cords 63 of any desired length should also be provided, and each of the lamp connections and cords 63 should be provided with a quick operable coupling or disconnecting device 24 such as shown in detail in Fig. 5. Each of these devices 24 comprises a male member 64 and a socket member 55, and the cords 63 should also be provided with quick detachable plugs 64 which are cooperable with the power outlet 2| of the panel 22. It will be apparent that these flood light assemblages provide extreme flexibility in securing any desired illumination of diverse areas, without obstructing the use of the search light l6 and in addition thereto.

Due to the relatively great weight of the search light l6 and in order to facilitate rapid and convenient vertical adjustment thereof, the supporting standard thereof Which is mounted centrally of the frame 8, is preferably provided with a hydraulic lift such as shown in Fig. 6. This hydraulic lift comprises a plunger spindle 66 having the pivot thrust bearing 55 mounted upon its upper extremity while its lower end is slidable within the column [8; and a hydraulic pump '61 associated with the column l8 within a liquid supply reservoir 68 and having inlet and discharge conduits 69, 79 respectively, communicating with the reservoir 68 and with the interior of the column l8 beneath the plunger 66 respectively. The pump piston H may be reciprocated by a hand lever I2 or by a suitable motor, in order to withdraw liquid by suction from the reservoir 68 through the inlet 69, and to force the same through the outlet conduit I0 into the column l8 beneath the plunger '66, thereby elevating the search-light l6; and a manually operable by-pass or return valve 13 should be provided between the column l8 and reservoir 68 so as to permit lowering of the search light I6 by gravity. This assemblage obviously permits the search light IE to be quickly raised or lowered, and the liquid confined Within the column I 8 provides a hydraulic pivot bearing for the plunger 66,

During normal use of the improved service unit, the outfit may be transported as a semi-trailer with the aid of the draw-bar 2'! to any desired locality while the castor wheel It is elevated as shown in Fig. 4; and when the unit has been thus transported to an airport for example, it may be disconnected from the traction vehicle after the pin 30 has been withdrawn and the swivel Wheel III has been lowered to the position shown in Fig. 1. The improved power and lighting assemblage may thereafter be readily moved in any direction, and the three-point support afforded by the wheels 9, lil combined with the swivel action of the castor wheel l0, permits pivoting and turning on short radii while the pneumatic tires facilitate silent transportation. After the engine II has been placed in operation, either or both generators l4, [5 may also be utilized to perform diverse services, and the search and flood ligh s I6, I! can be utilized to provide proper illumination for various purposes. The search light which is universally adjustable in all directions and may be hydraulically elevated. can obviously be used to facilitate take-oif and landing of airplanes and for spotting air-borne vehicles; while the flood lights I! which are also adjustable both as to elevation and variable angles, may be utilized to provide effective illumination of local areas within considerable range of the power generating unit.

Aside from furnishing power for lighting purposes, the. alternating current generator l4 may also be utilized to furnish power for diverse auxili-ary apparatus such as demagnetizers 35, sgnal-. ling devices 3'1", and other equipment, and the direct current generator 15 may obviously be employed for various purposes. This direct current generator I5 by virtue of its improved construction and the provision of the interchangeable or reversible connections 39 and switch l5e, may be utilized to operate auxiliaries such as aircraft starting motors 4S operable at a predetermined voltage, and to also actuate other equipment such as arc welders 43 which may be operable at other valtages, thus greatly enhancing the utility of the outfit. All of these auxiliaries may be quickly and conveniently connected to or disconnected from the control panel 22 of the mobile unit, while the latter also serves as a power source and storage space for the extra flood lamps l1 and cords 53 as well as for a number of additional lamps. The individual disconnecting devices 24 for the lamps H are important since they permit these lights to be quickly illuminated or extinguished and also provide power connections, and additionally permit the lamps I! to be mounted either on the vehicle columns !8 or on portable individual columns l8 disposed remote from the unit. The mobile lighting and power unit is therefore self-contained in every respect and has extreme utility for a great number of purposes and especially in connection with aeronautic service.

From the foregoing detailed description it will be apparent that my present invention provides an improved portable illuminating and power producing unit which is extremely efficient in operation and highly flexible in its adaptations. The new service unit is adapted to effectively fulfill various requirements and to perform diverse duties and especially those associated with airport and airplane servicing, and the equipment may be manufactured and operated at moderate cost without relying upon any outside source of power such as transmission lines. The lighting auxiliaries make the improved unit especially adept for night service and for use in dark 10- calities and the search light IS may be utilized without interference by the flood lights ll while the latter may be positioned either directly upon or remote from the power plant at will. The alternating and direct current generators and the provision for generating either low or higher voltage current, makes it possible to most effectively operate the lights as well as practically all other auxiliary equipment ordinarily employed in connection with airport servicing, and the improved mobile power generating and illuminating unit has proven highly successful and satisfactory for diverse purposes and in connection with many different industries. While the present improved unit is readily movable it is still highly stable and will not tip easily, due to the proper location of the engine I l and lights I 6, l1 upon the wheel supported frame 8.

It should be understood that it is not desired to limit this invention to the exact details of construction or to the previse mode of use herein shown and described, for various modifications within the scope of the claims may occur to persons skilled in the art.

I claim:

1. A portable electric power unit, comprising,

., a mobile frame mounted for transportation upon opposite coaxial side wheels at one end of the frame and a single central castor wheel at the opposite end thereof, a relatively heavy engine driven electric power generating set mounted upon said frame between said coaxial wheels and having its weight substantially balanced with respect to the common axis of said wheels, a relatively heavy search light mounted centrally upon said frame between said coaxial wheels and said castor wheel and at one end of said generating set and being adjustable to cast its light beam across the top of said set, and flood lights of lesser weight mounted upon said frame at the other end of said generating set and also being adjustable to cast their light beams across the top of said set.

2. A portable electric power unit, comprising, a mobile frame mounted for transportation upon opposite coaxial side wheels at one end of the frame and a single central castor Wheel at the opposite end thereof, a relatively heavy engine driven electric power generating set mounted upon said frame between said coaxial wheels and having its weight substantiall balanced with respect to the common axis of said wheels, a relatively heavy search light mounted centrally upon said frame between said coaxial wheels and said castor wheel and at one end of said generating set and being adjustable to cast its light beam across the top of said set, and flood lights of lesser weight than said search light mounted upon said frame at the other end of said generating set, said flood lights being spaced apart and disposed near said opposite side wheels and also being adjustable to cast their light beams across the top of said generating set.

3. A portable electric power unit, comprising, a mobile frame having a draw-bar at one end and being mounted for transportation upon opposite coaxial side wheels at its end remote from said draw-bar and upon a single castor wheel at its draw-bar end, means for positively elevating said castor wheel when said draw-bar is effective to move said frame upon said coaxial wheels, a relatively heavy engine driven electric power generating set mounted upon said frame between said coaxial wheels and having its weight substantially balanced with respect to the common axis of said wheels, a relatively heavy search light mounted centrally upon said frame between said coaxial Wheels and said castor wheel and at one end of said generating set and being adjustable to cast its light beam across the top of said set, and flood lights of lesser weight mounted upon said frame at the other end of said generating set and also being adjustable to cast their light beams across the top of said set.

4. A portable electric power unit, comprising, a mobile frame mounted for transportation upon opposite coaxial side wheels at one end of the frame and a single central castor wheel at the opposite end thereof, a relatively heavy engine driven electric power generating set mounted upon said frame between said coaxial wheels and having its weight substantially balanced with respect to the common axis of said wheels, a relatively heavy search light mounted centrally upon said frame between said coaxial wheels and said castor wheel and at one end of said generating set and being adjustable to cast its light beam across the top of said set, flood lights of lesser weight mounted upon said frame at the other end of said generating set and also being adjustable to cast their light beams across the top of said set, and means for effecting vertical adjustment of said search light and of said flood lights relative to said frame and generating set.

5. A portable electric power unit, comprising, a mobile frame mounted for transportation upon opposite coaxial side wheels at one end of the said generating set, laterally spaced flood lights of lesser weight than said search light mounted upon said frame at the other end of said generating set, and means for effecting independent vertical adjustment of said lights so as to permit the same to cast their light beams over the top of said generating set.

HAROLD E. HILL. 

